KU students in Topeka to ask for break on sales taxes for textbooks

A contingent of Kansas University students spent the day in Topeka Tuesday advocating for higher education issues with lawmakers.

Members of KU's Student Senate joined students from other Kansas Board of Regents universities traveling to the capital as part of Higher Education Day.

On behalf of their student bodies, the delegation is calling for lawmakers to eliminate sales taxes on textbooks as well as discuss higher education funding.

Marcus Tetwiler, KU student body president, said in a release that getting rid of sales taxes on text books would "help alleviate these rising costs" of textbooks and decrease the overall cost of education.

Eric Hurtt, a KU senior in political science and government relations director for the Senate, helped coordinate meetings and events.

While student delegations have traveled to Topeka to talk with lawmakers before, Hurtt said he thought this year's student delegation had better talking points.

"This year we're picking things where we all have skin in the game," he said. "You get a better seat at the table if you pick issues we can actually do something about."